Through the Startup Our Veterans Fellowship, any U.S. veteran or service member who wants to start a technology company can apply to a U.S. Founder Institute chapter for free, and the best overall applicant from Washington DC will be invited to participate in the Founder Institute's step-by-step startup launch program for free as well.

Veterans and active service members possess the work ethic, high character, and strong leadership skills needed to launch meaningful and enduring technology companies.
To inspire and enable the military community to build technology companies, the Founder Institute has partnered with Vet-Tech, the nation's leading startup accelerator for military veterans, to offer the "Startup Our Veterans" Fellowship.

Through this Fellowship, any U.S. veteran or service member who wants to start a technology company can apply to a U.S. Founder Institute chapter for free, and the best overall applicant from will be invited to participate in the Founder Institute's step-by-step startup launch program for free as well.

Eligibility: In order to be eligible for the Startup Our Veterans Fellowship for the Washington DC Spring 2016 Semester, you must complete your application and admissions test by Saturday, April 30, 2016, using this link.

Grant: The recipient of the Startup Our Veterans Fellowship will be awarded within 5 days after the deadline.

Planning Solutions Group
Planning Solutions Group is a financial planning firm that specializes in developing innovative concepts for wealth creation and preservation. PSG is comprised of 3 partners with over 60 years of combined industry experience, a team of associate planners, and a dedicated support staff which includes two an attorney who provides advanced estate and tax planning solutions, and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) for the development of creative investment strategies.

The CONNECTPreneur Fellowship is awarded to the most extraordinary applicant from the CONNECTPreneur Community, giving them the opportunity to enroll in the Washington DC Founder Institute for free. The recipient will be recognized as somebody with the utmost potential to become a successful technology entrepreneur.

The Washington DC Founder Institute is excited to partner with an organization that shares our goal of fostering a strong local startup ecosystem: CONNECTPreneur, a quarterly forum of 350+ top IT entrepreneurs and investors in greater Washington DC region. Through the CONNECTPreneur Fellowship, everyone from the CONNECTPreneur community is invited to apply to the Washington DC Founder Institute for free, and the best overall applicant from the community will receive a Fellowship to participate in the program for free as well ($1,650 value).

Eligibility: In order to be eligible for the CONNECTPreneur Fellowship for the Fall 2011 Washington DC Semester, you must complete your application and admissions test by April 3, 2016, using this link.

Grant: The recipient of the CONNECTPreneur Fellowship will be awarded within 5 days after the deadline.

With 1,100 lawyers, 150 practice areas and a global presence, Holland & Knight offers the experience and resources to handle your most difficult legal challenges. But we are dedicated to going beyond, to being your counselors in the fullest sense of the word. That involves more than knowing the law. It's understanding your business and your needs almost as well as you do. It's thinking about how we can serve your long-term interests, and not just the problem of the moment. It's measuring our value by your standards.

There's a reason Holland & Knight perennially ranks among the top law firms for client service. The answer lies in the relationships we build. Get connected to experience the difference.

Adam J. August practices in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings, commercial transactions, general corporate law and business bankruptcy. He counsels public and private company clients in a variety of industries including information technology, government contracting, software and telecommunications. He has been actively involved in merger, acquisition and disposition transactions with a combined value of over $1 billion, and financing/investment transactions and securities offerings worth over $600 million.

We are proud to announce Harrisburg University of Science and Technology as one of our corporate sponsors for the fall semester. The only science and technology-focused comprehensive university located between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Harrisburg University’s academic mission is to create, to attract and to expand economic opportunities in the region. Connect with HU via email at CONNECT@HarrisburgU.edu to learn more about HU and its entrepreneurship and mentoring programs, too.

Startup Legal and IP

Fall 2011 Washington DC Semester

What does a new Founder need to know about law in order to run a successful startup? When should a Founder use a lawyer, and when should you rely on your own work? What are the key terms in contracts to understand and to avoid? What are common legal mistakes? How should a Founder handle their intellectual property, including confidentiality, copyrights, trademarks and patents? What are common intellectual property problems, and how do you deal with them cost effectively?

Marisa Terrenzi practices principally in the areas of business and corporate law, with an emphasis on venture capital transactions and other private placements, mergers and acquisitions and general corporate matters. Her clients are engaged in industry sectors including s...

Eric Wechselblatt Partner, Holland & Knight

Eric Wechselblatt is a Partner in the firm's Business Law Group and Co-Chair of the firm's Venture Capital and Emerging Growth Companies Team. He represents clients in a variety of corporate and securities activities, with an emphasis on venture capital transactions and o...

The Founder Institute is the world’s premier startup launch program for talented entrepreneurs. If you are up to the challenge, our comprehensive step-by-step program will give you the structure, mentor support, and network of entrepreneurs you need to start an enduring company. Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 60 countries, the Founder Institute's mission is to "Globalize Silicon Valley" and build sustainable startup ecosystems worldwide.